This new law is published today, May 27, in two newspapers of general circulation, namely: Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star and it shall take effect 15 days thereafter.

The NMIS Executive Director - Dr. Minda S. Manantan stated that the enactment of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9296 in 2004 did not include sanctions and penalties to persons who are in conflict with the law. She said that though confiscation of the unsafe meats being sold to the consuming public was allowed under RA No. 9296, it did not deter the unscrupulous sellers from peddling “hot meat”. She explained that under RA No. 10536, the definition of “hot meat” was expanded to include “botcha”, cold slaughter or “double dead” (meat from diseased and dead animals) as well as illegally imported meat and meat products, both of which were not penalized under RA No. 9296 but which RA No. 10536 now considers as an offense against the people carrying not only fines but imprisonment as penalties.